Display apparatus



June 1 1926.

' L. R.- MCDONALD DISPLAY APPARATUS s sheets-sheet 1 'Filed Nov. .14,1924 MZZI' A TTORNEY.

June l1 1926. 1,586,566 L. R. MCDONALD A D ISPLAY APPARATUS Filed" Nov.14, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR,

BY mff ATTORNEY.

June l1 [1926. 1,586,566

L. R. MCDONALD DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 14, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Egg-4 INVENToR @Gum 21e/Smau.'

TTORNEY Patented June 1,A 1926.

aan@ Aims-@TUS- Appiic'aiion inea Neyeipberpfiqg, 11924.,`seraliin;ffigcgjm,

My inventionl relates to that class oiidis- L al shaft 121 driven by aWorin gear 14C mesh-l play apparatuses! whereinl a considerable numberoi' disconnected placards are exhibited one by one, successively'removed Y from View position, reversed, and the kre-f.

versed side l exhibited; and any" improve- K yedges; adaptedrfto'cooperate with ar detent y /1'9 mounted in thebase of tbe machine,

ments are directed to thedetailsoil construction of 'such an apparatus.

A An object of my improvements is to main.-

' tain 'theliioremost placard at a suitable angle for exhibition;l untilthe` next placard ap allowed to lfall back pears, when it maybe againstthe pack.l

" Another -ob'ect ofmy invention is to improve thel means for receivinga placard when it is lowered toward!Tv'ievvx positionandtogradually'bring it downy under Vthey influence ofthe placardwithdrawing mech- `amsm.Vc f

wAnother objecty ont my invention is to introduce improved means forpreventing the premature reappearance of any placard before its propertime.4

' And ystill 'another obj ect of Amy invention f' is to so construct theapparatustliatfplacards may be readily inserted. or removed withoutdisassemblin'g; the apparatus. y

lIn. the drawings Figli is a iront elevation of my iin-proved'apparatuswith the casing partly` removed; EigT Z'is aside elevation taken on theline 2-#2 ot'lFigf. 1, with the side of the casing removed; Fig. 3 is -pa vertical sectionalV viewtaken on the line r 3 3 of Figui, looking tothe iight; Fig. ,d is a View of the upper part of the' apparatus takenon the same line?l as Fig. li'uljisliow-A ,ing the upper part or' theniech'a'nisniitilted back to allow access to thc-placard reservoir; Fig.l5 is a planviewot the placard` pack carrying andshiftingmechanism;andFig. 6 is a crosssectioiial-view ojfthe Vsame taken. on the'line (5e-6?ofi Fig. 'Figs'. 5 vand 6 are on an enlarged scale.'

In all the figures similar parts are desigl-Kk nated bycorrespondingreic-erence numerals. As vusual inapparatuses of'v Ithisgeneral character, the mechanism `is preferablyarranged lwithin a case1,-1pi'ovided with an open or glazed front 2 behind which? the placards3, 3 are to be successively exhibited.v

' `"llhese placards maybe conveniently supported` on a pairotfworinsd, 5journallejd in the framework of the apparatus having respectivelythreads of opposite pitches terf mnat'lnv rearWardly` in" gr'oqyedcams(5, and "riven-v bysiutableg'earing" y'as worm gears *8,` 9, meshingl[with i" worms 105 1l ou the shaft 16x oi' preferably provided with adepitessedfand laterally taperedA Jiorward end/2U andf `slidablyfheld:av support 9,1, to which 'it is kdetachably attached kas by aspringQQftlie rfreeend of which Lmay be: sprung intoarid 'out of lasocket intheedge of the detent.

This varrangementA permitstlie detent rto be slid backward.` olf its`base sowas to. permit the vremoval and substitution 'ofplacards asdesired. lThe depression and. lateral tap` ering oli*` the orwardfendoiithe detent vf adapt ittoenter the notchesyinlthe cards witliCertaintyeven if] a. card is'slightly dis-- placed when"I it approacl'iesi thedetent. 'As j the placards are carriedbackfalong theidetent" willivlllldltliem' all down. with the "exception oii the re'aiiiiost'placard., vwhich vvillfpass backed the detent before. it is raised by`veece'ntrics-fon the worms;y so,v as to be graspedbetween the belts 251and the roller 263i fand carried" forward. between the being the Toumai'saca-ao, arma 32, andf allowed lto'drop downv into? view osition in the'iiont-lo-the apparatus.v

y f `The belts'Qz, 25 also travel zover suitable carrying rollers, 36,3T and 385 suitablyT :niouiiteldrin the frame the apparatusfand drivenby the. motor -l7f r'through a sprocket lOl on shaft 12, sprocket ychainil and sprocket 4-2on: shaftS/l?y of theroller :35; another sprocketdlon shaft 43' driving a sprocket chain travellingvalso around thesprocket 461cm shaft d? of roller 38; 'v

As the placard vis dropped d'lown'toithe fron-t ofthe apparatusni't' isdirectedby suitable'ed'ge `guides 50?' 50,j sothat its lower edge' willifallfupon the sloping receptor 51 dovvn which'itmayslide until'it restsupon wardly disposed flange 53 andi carried by thefbar 545 'pivotedi'asat'55,'in the base of the apparatus and extended so that its 4 innerend'v rocks up against the cam 6. `The relative adjustment 4oithe partsis 'such .shown f in Fig.` 3,1-tliarotation of the# cam the 'crosshead52,'y provided with a rear-` `A 6 allowing the cross head to dropdown, allowing the placard to rest upon the ungrooved portions 5S and 59of the forward ends of the worms 4 and 5, the turning of the wormsbringing the ends of their grooves beneath the edOe of the placard andstarting the placard on its backward travel.

This arrangement avoids bruising the bottom of the placards when theyare lowered into position, as might, possibly, occur if they felldirectly upon the curved surfaces of the worms.

A shaft 62 is liournalled in the framework of the apparatus, and through.a sprocket 63 is driven by the sprocket chain 45.

A worm 64 on shaft 62 drives a worm gear 65 on a shaft 66 mounted in abearing 67 carried by a transversely disposed rod 68, the forward end ofthe shaft 66 being provided with a worm 69 having a comparatively broadthread preferably extending over two full turns. lVhen a placard isdropped into view position its top will lean back againstthe face of theworm; and as the worm revolves its free end will pass in front of theupper edge of the placard, which will gradually be moved back as theworm revolves, so that when the bottoni of the placard has been turnedback by the worms 4 and 5, so as to make room for the next placard to beexhibited, the top of the retiring placard will have been withdrawn bythe worm 69, so as not to interfere with the succeeding placard. Afterthe tops of the placards pass the worm 69 they fall naturally againstthe pack behind them.

To assist in raising the rearmost placard it y is of advantage to use apositively driven roller 72, preferably of rubber or similar material,which is shown as mounted on a shaft 73 carrying a sprocket 74, drivenby the sprocket chain 4l. This assists the top of the placard inovercoming' the friction of the weight of the pack leaning against it.

In the practical use of such an apparatus it is important to provide forready access to the placard reservoir for the purpose of changing theplacards. This I do by assembling the system of the placard shiftingrollers, including the apparatus for supporting the top of the forwardplacard, as a unit between suitable head plates 76 and 77; the shaft 43passing through suitable bearings at the tops of the end frames 7 Si,79, so that the roller unit may be rocked up, as illustrated in Fig. 4and adjusted or moved into a different position relative to the rest ofthe apparatus, thus affording ready access through the top of theapparat-us.

By means of my improvements I obtain a compact and comparatively simpleapparatus for the eiiicient exhibition of independent placards, whichare successively released from down-holding means, raised,

shifted, and reversed; dropped toward and then gently lowered into viewposition; supported at a suitable angle while being exhibited, and asgradually retired, are allowed to fall back upon the placard pack; andwhich operates by the down-holding means being readily releasable toallow changing of the placards, and the placard receiving spaces beingreached with facility by swinging back the top element of the mechanism.

I wish it to be understood that the apparatus illustrated is to beconsidered as a typical illustration of the embodiment of myimprovements and not as an exclusive form. For it is obvious thatdetails of construction might be modified as by substitution ofmechanical equivalents, without departing from the spirit of myinvention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is

l. In a display apparatus, the combination of a plurality ofindependent, flexible placards with supporting and shifting means, meansfor raising, transferring from rear to front, and lowering the placardssuccessively edgewise onto the supporting means in relatively spacedpositions, and means for temporarily preventing the top of each placardfrom falling back under the influence of gravity, against those behindit while being exhibited.

2. In a display apparatus, the combination of a plurality ofindependent, liexible placards with supporting and shifting means, meansfor raising, transferring from rear to front, and lowering the placardssuccessively edgewise onto the supporting means in relatively spacedpositions, and moving means for temporarily preventing the top of eachplacard from falling back under the influence of gravity,against thosebehind it while being exhibited.

3. In a display apparatus, the coinbination of a plurality ofindependent, flexible placards with supporting and shifting means, meansfor raising, transferring from rear to front, and lowering the placardssuccessively edgewise onto the supporting means in relatively spacedpositions, and means embodying a worm for temporarily preventing the topof each placard from falling back under the influence of gravity,against those behind it while being exhibited. I

4. In a display apparatus, the combination of a plurality ofindependent, flexible placards with supporting and shifting means, meansfor raising, transferring from rear to front, and lowering the placardssuccessively edgewise onto the support-ing means in relatively spacedpositions, and means embodying a worm having a comparatively IGI)jwidefthreadifortemporarily prevei'it'ingtlie topY of eachI placard fromfalling`- back under the influence bf fgrav'ity;againstthose-ibeo"placa-rd'successively, ',supplememzary raising *hind it wl'ilelbeingeiiliibited; p *5;111 `a display` apparatus, .tliefcon'ibination oft aIplurality o ndependent, "flexible lpljacads iwifth *supporting *und`V"shifting y nmeans,lrneansfor.raising, transferring ifrom rear .tofront, and lowering'theplacards suc- '19 jcessively edgewiseontothesupport-ing'means Ain relatively i spacedy positions,` an'dmeans-Or ptemporarilypreventingithef-top `of eachpla.-`

` card from 7 falling ,back -under 'tlieinfluence of f'gravity, against"'those behind "{it' while w''being :exhibited Land "f-for permitting =itto fall baci; againsttlie placard `pack when a f new placard 'hasjbeenilowered into view ipo- :"sition.r y'

6.*In aldisplay apparatus-fthe combina- 210 tionof aqpluralijty-ofindependent, "flejxlible placards with supporting and#shiftingnnzans,A`r means'- forirai'si ng, transferring from rear to'liront," and 'lowering the 4placardssucqlcessively,`r andmovableymeansfor prelimiaanarily frec'eivingjeach placa-.rd when loweredand their gradually f lowering it tonthe shiftring means. y In a displayapparatus,-theflconibina- *tion ofy a Fplurality of independent,Iflexible aaplacards *with *supporting and shifting meansf means 'forraising;transferring;` from rear "to"front=-, and lowering '.tliefplacards -successively, i andimeans adapted` =to #be raised topreliminarily receive Ifeachf placard when si!" lowered and thendepressed:V to i gradually flower it? to 'the shifting means. 'L

f SFInL af display apparatus,ftlie'combination l off-apluralitylofindependent`,f}tle iib=le placards with supportingf and: 'shifting`vmeans,

`iumeansf'ferraising, transfer'rii'ig-'rfromf rear to front, and'loweringj the plaeardssuccessively,` andnieansf adap'tedy 'to be:raised4 to preliminar-ily receiveV ea'elr yplacardl midway bt itswidtliandto` be `f depressedzto.` lower the 4,5 placard to theshifting;means.V 1y l 9. lIna display apparatus, the combination Aof aplurality-of independent, flexible placards with supporting and'shifting means,

means for raising, transferring yfrom rear toy 50v front, and loweringthe placards successively, and means actuated by the shifting means andadapted to be raised to preliminarily receive eaclt placard when loweredand then gradually lower it to the shifting means.L

nation of a plurality of independent, flexible placards withv supportingand Shifting nieans, means for raising, transferring fromlO. In adisplay apparatus, the combi-4 means engaging withtlie back ofthe-placard, sand itransferring and reversing .means All'l2'.'In-adisplayapparatusytlie combinai tionofa plurality .ofvindepenclent,.'fleaible U-placardsi with supporting means and. means#for-s -I placard" successively, suppleinentary l raising meansfenibodyin'g afdriven roller engaging fwiththe back ofthe placarcl,zand`transfer- -'-ringand reversing:inea-ns.rv

"fllfInadispla apparatus, vthe `combinalltionloff-a plurality ofindependenuf.flexible placards with vsupporting 'means andineans x 'foriSsliifting" .and preliminarily raising each Y! placard? successively,.-f supplementary; raising flralsurface adapted/to clingto-itheyplaecard, and transferring. and yfrerersinfg inea-ns,

14;. In a display apparatus, the feoinbinartionl of a plurality`o:f.independent,- flexible placards with supporting :nieansi andwineans'hforf shifting and prelim-inarily f raising g. keach placard Tsuccessively, supplementary lraising ineans embodying roller; having asmooth wrubber 'face `.engagging f i placard, and 1 .transfmring` andreversing --1neans.

yplacard Yith supper g :means andiineans torvv t1 '91 andprelini:nai-ily`:raisinof' eacli' Sting andA preliminarilyzraisingeach"mea-nsf:embodying a driven. roller i provided@ 15. Ina displayapparatus, the *combina-k 'I Ati on i of.l ai :plurality i ofindependent, lflexible if placards'"mwithsupporting ksand' shiftinglm'e'ans', readily.':detachable:placard detaining ,i limeans;l .adaptedlto engage -1 .with the lower i .portions of :the placards, means forinitiaty ingrthe separation; of theplacards-successivel f:ly,11"andfiplacard :transfer ring ,andy reversing 'means. y .p n

. 16. .In a fdisplay, app'aratus,"` the combina- -Stion 1. of a;.plurality; of p independent, fflexible placards with supporting y, andi shifting ymeans, kplacard' f detaining means embodying #a1-slidingelement detacliably connected with a support and yadapted to engagewiththe f lower: portions of the placards.

17. VIn a display apparatus, the combina-V les tion of a` plurality ofindependent, flexible placards with Hsupporting` and shifting means,said `placards having dovetail 'notches therein, placard detainingmeans, einbodying a sliding element having a forwardly depressed and'tapered end, detachably connected with' asupport and adapted to engagewith they lower portions of the placardstby enteringsaid dovetailnotches therein. y f l 518. In adisplayapparatus for exhibiting inysuccession a plurality ofilexible placards,

' the combinationof a common frame work,

kplacard supporting and' rearwardly shifting means arranged in a unitaryassembly c within the framework, andy placard raising, -transferrlng andreversingmeans *arrangedy :ree i fifi in another unitary assembly`iivotally mounted within the framework anc readily adjustable as awhole into different positions relative to the first mentioned unitaryassembly.

19. In a display apparatus for exhibiting in succession a plurality offlexible placards, the combination of a common framework, placardsupporting and rearwardly shifting means arranged in a unitary assemblywithin the framework, and placard raising, transferring, reversing andplacard top supporting means arranged in another unitary assemblypivotally mounted within the framework and readily adjustable as a wholeinto different positions relative to the 'first mentioned unitaryassembly.

20. ln a display apparatus for exhibiting in succession a plurality offlexible placards, the combination of a common framework, common actating means, placard supporting and rearwardly shifting means arrangedin a unitary assembly within the framework, and placard raising,transferring and reversing means arranged in another unitary assemblypivotally mounted within the framework and readily adjustable as a wholeinto different posit-ions relative to the first mentioned unitaryassembly without disturbance of the normal relations of the twoassemblies to the common actuating means.

2l. In a display apparatus for exhibiting in succession a plurality offlexible placards, the combination of a common framework, placardsupporting and rearwardly shifting means arranged in a unitary assemblywith-A in the framework below a placard reservoir., and placard raising,transferring and reif'ersing means arranged in another unitary assemblymounted within the framework above the placard reservoir and readilyadjustable as a whole into different positions relative to the lirstmentioned unitary assembly to afford ready access to the placardreservoir.

22. ln a display apparat-us for exhibiting mentioned unitary assembly toafford readyl access to the placard reservoir without disturbance of tbenormal relations of the two assemblies to the common actuating means.

ln a display apparatus, the combination of a plurality of independent,flexible placards with supporting, shifting and iniv tially raising`means, readily detachable placard detaining means, supplementary raisingmeans engaging with the back ot' each placard successively, means fordrawing up, transferring and reversing the placards successively, meansfor temporarily supporting the top of each placard when in viewposition, and means for preliminarily receiving each placard andlowering it to the shifting means.

24. .ln a di lay apparatus, the combiiuniun of a plurality ofindependent, 'flexible placards with supporting, shifting and initiallyraising means, readily detachable placard detaining means, supplementaryraising means engaging with the back of eachplacard successively, meansfor drawing up, transfer-ring` and reversing the placards successively,means for temporarily supporting the top of each placard when in viewposition, and means for preliminarily receiving cach placard andlowering it to the shifting means, the means for drawing up,transferring and reversing and support` ing the tops of the placardsbeing in a unitary assembly readily separable from the rest of theapparatus.

LESLEE R. McDONALD.

